North Dakota regulators extend, toughen gas flaring mandate

Natural gas flares are seen at an oil pump site outside of Williston, North Dakota in this March 11, 2013 file photo. North Dakota is poised to impose the strictest oil standards in its history December 9, 2014, requiring every barrel of crude to be filtered for dangerous types of natural gas in an effort to make crude-by-rail transport safer. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/Files (UNITED STATES - BUSINESS ENERGY ENVIRONMENT)

BISMARCK, N.D.: Energy companies are getting more time to cut down on the wasteful flaring of natural gas in North Dakota's oil fields.

In return for extending by 10 months a Jan. 1 target, state regulators have implemented a stiffer long-term benchmark.

Natural gas is a byproduct of oil production. About 20 percent is currently burned off in North Dakota because the infrastructure isn't there to move it to market. That's enough to meet the daily needs of just under 2,000 average U.S. homes.

The industry now has until Nov. 1, 2016, to meet a 15 percent benchmark, or risk production limits. In return, the 2020 benchmark will be toughened from 10 percent to between 9 and 7 percent.

Environmental groups say the state is bowing to oil industry pressure.